Vidya Shah on ‘Women on Record’, a celebration of women in the Gramophone Era, and her book Jalsa | Lifestyle News, The Indian Express

Vidya Shah on ‘Women on Record’, a celebration of women in the Gramophone Era, and her book Jalsa | Lifestyle News, The Indian Express

Written by Parul |Updated: May 5, 2019 9:09:54 am

Vidya Shah on ‘Women on Record’, a celebration of women in the Gramophone Era, and her book Jalsa

From Begum Akhtar to Faiz Ahmad Faiz, language of the Sufiana kalam to collaborations with jazz musicians in Europe, Shah says music has no limitations.

Classical vocalist Vidya Shah

The past comes alive in the voice of classical vocalist Vidya Shah, who strives to create conversations with her music, for she believes that music must present the time it is in and must be accessible to people. This is precisely why her performances and projects bring together stories, visuals, music, poetry, and text, along with issues of gender and sexuality for the listeners. “People like stories and contexts and know what they are listening to. Traditional doesn’t mean from the stone age, it must keep evolving and as I create these bridges between the past and present, I do not step out of my grammar of learning. I know how to use my voice and understand how it lends to certain genres and am mentally versatile to create new compositions, while I am rooted,” says Shah.